Slim-lined, solar-powered led lighting system and outdoor patio umbrella having the same

Abstract

An outdoor patio umbrella has a lower pole, an umbrella pole, a plurality of long ribs supported by the umbrella pole, and a canopy supported by the plurality of long ribs. At least one of the plurality of long ribs has, in cross section, a solid bottom wall, first and second upstanding side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, and an LED PCB extending between the first and second side walls. The PCB is attached to a conducting means, which attaches to a circuit board. The LEDs receive electricity from a rechargeable battery, which is charged by a solar panel. Other embodiments include LEDs for short ribs that connect to the long ribs and lower canopy slide. Additional embodiments include a center LED housed within a lower canopy slide.

1 . A slim-lined, solar-powered LED lighting system for an umbrella, wherein the solar-powered LED lighting system comprises:
 a plurality of LEDs for lighting wherein said plurality of LEDs are surface-mounted LEDs;   a rechargeable battery configured to provide electricity to of LEDs;   a solar panel configured to convert optical energy to electrical energy for charging the rechargeable battery;   a circuit board that protects the rechargeable battery;
 wherein the circuit board comprises: 
 at least one MOSFET; and 
 an integrated circuit; and 
 a cover; and 
   wherein the umbrella comprises:   a canopy;   a lower pole;   an umbrella pole;   a lower canopy slide to move up and down along the poles to open and close the umbrella;   a crank with a rope attached to move the lower canopy slide up and down when the crank is turned by a user;   a plurality of long ribs to support the canopy; and   a plurality of short ribs, wherein each of the plurality of short ribs has a first end connected to the lower canopy slide and a second end connected to one of the plurality of long ribs;   wherein said plurality of LEDs are installed on said lower canopy slide, installed on at least one of said plurality of long ribs, and/or installed on at least one of said plurality of short ribs.   
     
     
         2 . The solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one long rib contains at least one of said plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         3 . The solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one short rib contains at least one of said plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         4 . The solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of LEDs comprises:
 a first set of LEDs installed on the plurality of long ribs and/or the plurality of short ribs of the umbrella; and   a second set of LEDs installed on a lower canopy slide.   
     
     
         5 . The slim-lined, solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 2 , wherein the LEDs are controlled by at least one switch. 
     
     
         6 . The slim-lined, solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 3 , wherein the LEDs are controlled by at least one switch. 
     
     
         7 . The slim-lined, solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 4 , wherein the LEDs are controlled by at least one switch. 
     
     
         8 . The slim-lined, solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power output connector positioned on the lower pole of the umbrella and configured to provide electricity to a separate lighting device. 
     
     
         9 . The slim-lined, solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 8 , wherein the separate lighting device comprises a LED light strip, wherein the LED light strip comprises:
 a power connector to connect to the power output connector of the solar-powered LED lighting system;   a set of LED lights,   a plurality of LED light sockets configured to install set of LED lights; and   a wire to connect the electricity from the power connector to the plurality of LED light sockets and the set of LED lights.   
     
     
         10 . A market umbrella comprising the solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         11 . A market umbrella comprising the solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         12 . A market umbrella comprising the solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         13 . An offset umbrella comprising the solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         14 . An offset umbrella comprising the solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         15 . An offset umbrella comprising the solar-powered LED lighting system of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         16 . An umbrella assembly comprising:
 a rib-insertable LED assembly, wherein said rib-insertable LED assembly includes one or more LEDs mounted on a conducting means and is adapted for sliding insertion into a rib;   a lower canopy slide capable of sliding on an umbrella pole;   a plurality of long ribs capable of supporting a canopy;   a plurality of short ribs, wherein each of the plurality of short ribs has a first end connected to the lower canopy slide and a second end connected to one of the plurality of long ribs; and   at least one of said plurality of long ribs or at least one of said plurality of short ribs comprises:
 a bottom wall; 
 a left-side wall and a right-side wall extending up from the bottom wall; 
 a top wall connected to the left-side wall and the right-side wall; 
 a left lower-notch protuberance extending rightward from said left-side wall; 
 a right lower-notch protuberance extending leftward from said right-side wall; 
 the left lower-notch protuberance, the right lower-notch protuberance, and the bottom wall together forming and bounding an LED assembly-accepting zone; 
   said rib-insertable LED assembly residing in said LED assembly-accepting zone;   optionally, a left upper-notch protuberance extending rightward from said left-side wall;   optionally, a right upper-notch protuberance extending leftward from said right-side wall; and   no additional notch protuberances extending inwardly from said right- or left-side walls.   
     
     
         17 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said conducting means is a PCB. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said one or more LEDs is a surface-mounted LED. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said optional left upper-notch protuberance and said optional right upper-notch protuberance are present, and a cover allowing transmission of light is installed between said upper-notch protuberances and said top wall.